#036 Writing in the Sciences - Introduction & Principles of effective writing
INTRODUCTION
- What makes good writing?
- Good writing communicates an idea clearly and effectively. (Takes having something to say and clear thinking.)
- Good writing is elegant and stylish. (Takes time, revision, and a good editor.)
- What makes a good writer?
- Having something to say.
- Logical thinking.
- A few simple, learnable rules of style (the tools you’ll learn here).
Good writing can be learned.
Other things to improve:
- Read, pay attention, and imitate.
- Write in a journal.
- Let go of “academic” writing habits (deprogramming step).
- Talk about your research before trying to write about it.
- Write to engage your readers - try not to bore them!
- Stop waiting for “inspiration”.
- Accept that writing is hard for everyone.
- Revise. Nobody gets it perfect on the first try.
- Learn how to cut ruthlessly. Never become too attached to your words.
- Find a good editor!
- Take risks.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT NOT TO DO
Disclaimer
- Is this sentence easy to understand?
- Is this sentence enjoyable and interesting to read?
- Is this sentence readable?
- Is it written to inform or to obscure?
Hallmark: spunky verbs become clunky nouns.
Themes
- Complex ideas don’t require complex language.
- Scientific writing should be easy and even enjoyable to read!
Overview: Principles of effective writing
- Cut unnecessary words and phrases; learn to part with your words!
- Use the active voice (subject + verb + object)
- Write with verbs: use strong verbs, avoid turning verbs into nouns, and don’t bury the main verb!
Cut the clutter
Example 1
This paper provides a review of the basic tenets of cancer biology study design, using as examples studies that illustrate the methodologic challenges or that demonstrate successful solutions to the difficulties inherent in biological research.
This paper reviews cancer biology study design, using examples that illustrate specific challenges and solutions.
Example 2
As it is well known, increased athletic activity has been related to a profile of lower cardiovascular risk, lower blood pressure levels, and improved muscular and cardio-respiratory performance.
Increased athletic activity is associated with lower cardiovascular risk, lower blood pressure, and improved fitness.
Example 3
The experimental demonstration is the first of its kind and is a proof of principle for the concept of laser driven particle acceleration in a structure loaded vacuum.
The experiment provides the first proof of principle of laser-driven particle acceleration in a structure-loaded vacuum.
Be vigilant and ruthless.
Common clutter:
- Dead weight words and phrases
- As it is well known
- As it has been shown
- It can be regarded that
- It should be emphasized that
- Empty words and phrases
- Basic tenets of
- Methodologic
- Important
- Long words or phrases that could be short
- Muscular and cardio-respiratory performance
- Unnecessary jargon and acronyms
- Muscular and cardio-respiratory performance
- Gilomagenesis
- miR
- Repetitive words or phrases
- Studies/examples
- Illustrate/demonstrate
- Challenges/difficulties
- Successful solutions
- Adverbs
- very, really, quite, basically, generally, etc.
Long words and phrases that could be short:
| Wordy version | Crisp Version |
|---|---|
| A majority of | Most |
| A number of | Many |
| Are of the same opinion | Agree |
| Less frequently occurring | Rare |
| All three of the | The three |
| Give rise to | Cause |
| Due th the fact that | Because |
| Have an affect on | Affect |
| Based on the assumption that | If |
More tricks
- Eliminate negatives
- She was not often right.
- She was usually wrong.
- Eliminate superfluous uses of “there are/there is”
- There are many ways in which we can arrange the pulleys.
- We can arrange the pulleys in many ways.
- Omit needless prepositions
- The meeting happened on Monday.
- The meeting happened Mondady.